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New Locality Record of Creobroter Gemmatus (Indian Flower Mantis

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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 New Locality Record of Creobroter Gemmatus (Indian Flower Mantis / Jeweled Flower Mantis) in the Coastal Region of Contai / Kanthi and its Pattern of Mimicry in Relation to Behaviour Kallol Hajra1, Dr. Sumit Giri2, Prasanta Mandal3 Approved Part-Time Teacher) P. K. College,Contai,West Bengal, India Approved Part-Time Teacher) P. K. College, Contai, West Bengal, India Approved Part-Time Teacher) Ramnagar College, Depal, West Bengal, India Abstract: Indian flower mantis (Creobroter gemmatus) is observed during study period April 2014 to May 2015 from Contai/Kanthi, Purba Medinipur District, W.B. In this article, it is reported that this type of mantis is first time observed in the coastal region of Purba Medinipur district specially to Contai/Kanthi, West Bengal. The wings are green with a yellow eye shaped pattern. The male has a slightly duller coloration on the wings to the female. This type of Mantis also exhibit aggressive type of mimicry and this amazing animal is normally found on top of flowers where they can camouflage themselves and wait for their prey. The host plants of this species are Calotropis procera under family Asclepiadaceae and Pluchea indica under the family Asteraceae . Keyword: Creobroter gemmatus, Coastal region, Contai, mimicry, host plant. 1. Introduction 2. Materials and Method Creobroter gemmatus was first described by Stoll (1813). It Study Site is also called Asian Flower Mantis or Indian flower mantis or Jeweled Flower Mantis in India. The Indian flower mantis Kanthi: It is a small town, situated near the coastal area of is also occurring in Vietnam and South and Southeast Asia. Purba Medinipur district. The distance from Kolkata to There was no record from Purba Medinipur District on this Kanthi is 150km. The latitude and longitude of study site is mantis but now it is found in coastal area of Contai/Kanthi. 21050’N and 87048’ E. We study at the Soula and Junput Females can be cannibalistic but males are fairly communal. coastal region near the Kanthi Town. Cannibalism behavior among C. germmatus is more common than other flower mantis. In this article, we reported the ecology, behavior, and pattern of mimicry of C. germmatus. Figure 1: Location of study sites Volume 4 Issue 6, June 2015 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: SUB156097 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 2742 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 Sampling Observation It is collected by hand picking and preserve in 70% alcohol. At first we observed this mantis on April 2014 near Soula This preserved specimen is kept into the museum of coastal region and secondly observed on May 2015 near the Zoology Department, P.K. College, Contai. Junput coastal region during day time simultaneously. Firstly it is found on Pluchea indica under the Family 3. Result Asteraceae and secondly found on Calotropis procera (Akanda Plant) . Systematic Position Creobroter gemmatus on Pluchea indica Plant Creobroter gemmatus on Calotropis procera (Akanda Plant) Conservation Status Morphological Features Not evaluated/Data deficient. 1) In male, abdomen is 8 segmented. 2) In female, abdomen is 6 segmented. Identifying Characters 3) In male wings are longer than abdomen but in 1) Eye spot present on fore wing. female it is shorter than abdomen. 2) Presence of green and white patches alternately on the 4) Presence of deimatic display of bright hind wings abdomen. that means pinkish color at the upper part and 3) Generally green to brown color. blackish color at the lower part are observed. 4) Presence of sharp claw at the proximity of first pair of 5) The base of the antennas is thicker in male than of thoracic legs. the female adult. Volume 4 Issue 6, June 2015 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: SUB156097 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 2743 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 4. Discussion Ecology This type of mantis is found in tall grasses, dense or low vegetation, bushes, some plants having branches, twigs with bright flowers where different types of prey of it will be found. These are also found in damp areas. Their foods are variable such as Drosophila, flies, moths, cockroaches, crickets, butterflies etc. Camouflage and Mimicry Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. So the animals use their colors to blend into the environment. Camouflage is a type of animal adaptation. On the other hand mimicry is related to camouflage, in which a species resembles its surroundings or is otherwise difficult to detect. So it is said that camouflage and mimicry are adaptations which help the Creobroter gemmatus for catch their prey as well as avoid and escape from predators. Therefore, this type of adaptation may be morphological, physiological or both. In this respect, it is said that coloration of Creobroter gammatus is an example of aggressive mimicry, a form of camouflage in which a predator's colors and patterns lure prey. The predator of flower mantises are bats and other animals, so they are colored to match with parts of plants such as flowers, twigs, leave and even grass to hide .All these phenomenon are also related to their behavioral pattern because their behavior are varies, but typically involves climbing a plant until they reach a suitable flower, and then staying still until a prey insect comes within range. The Measurement of Morphological Features: deimatic behavior is found in this animal which means any pattern of threatening or startling behavior, such as suddenly Table 1 displaying conspicuous eyespots, so as to scare off or No. of Body Length of Length of Length of Ist momentarily distract a predator, thus giving the prey animal Observation Length(inch) Fore hind Thoracic an opportunity to escape. Wing(inch) Wing(inch) Leg(inch) IST 1.6 3.0 2.7 2.6 References 2ND 1.5 2.9 2.5 2.5 [1] Chandra, K. 2009. Insecta: Mantodea. Fauna of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), Conservation Area Series-40, Zoological Survey of India: 59-61. [2] Henry, G.M. (1932). Observations on some Ceylonese Mantidae with descriptions of new species. Spolia Zeylanica 17: 1-18. [3] Kirby, W.F. (1904). A Synonymic Catalogue of Orthoptera - Volume 1. British Museum, London, 224pp. [4] Mukherjee, T.K., Hazra, A.K. & Ghosh, A.K. (1995).The mantid fauna of India (Insecta: Mantodea). Oriemal Insects 29: 185-358. Volume 4 Issue 6, June 2015 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: SUB156097 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 2744.
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